Computed tomography attenuation in differential diagnosis of transudative and exudative pleural effusions
Clinics
; Clinics;79: 100463, 2024. tab, graf
Article
in En
|
LILACS-Express
| LILACS
| ID: biblio-1574768
Responsible library:
BR1.1
ABSTRACT
Abstract Objective:
Pleural effusion is a common medical problem. It is important to decide whether the pleural fluid is a transudate or an exudate. This study aims to measure the attenuation values of pleural effusions on thorax computed tomography and to investigate the efficacy of this measurement in the diagnostic separation of transudates and exudates. Materials andmethods:
380 cases who underwent thoracentesis and thorax computed tomography with pleural effusion were classified as exudates or transudates based on Light's criteria. Attenuation measurements in Houns-field units were performed through the examination of thorax computed tomography images.Results:
380 patients were enrolled (39 % women), the mean age was 69.9 ± 15.2 years. 125 (33 %) were transudates whereas 255 (67 %) were exudates. The attenuation values of exudates were significantly higher than transudates (15.1 ± 5.1 and 5.0 ± 3.4) (p< 0.001). When the attenuation cut-off was set at ≥ 10 HU, exudates were differentiated from transudates at high efficiency (sensitivity is 89.7 %, specificity is 94.4 %, PPV is 97 %, NPV is 81.9 %). When the cut-off value was accepted as < 6 HU, transudates were differentiated from exudates with 97.2 % specificity.Conclusion:
The attenuation measurements of pleural fluids can be considered as an efficacious way of differentiating exudative and transudative pleural effusions.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
LILACS
Language:
En
Journal:
Clinics
Journal subject:
MEDICINA
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Turkey
Country of publication:
Brazil